Display device

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first line extending in a first direction, an insulating layer covering the first line, a second line disposed on the insulating layer and extending in a second direction, and a drive circuit including an output line extending in the first direction and connected to the first line through a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first portion to which the first line is connected at a first position, and a second portion to which the output line is connected at a second position which is apart from the first position in the second direction, the second portion facing the first portion with the insulating layer interposed therebetween while being electrically connected to the first portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/287,053, filed Feb. 27, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/363,819, filed Nov. 29, 2016, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/708,582, filed May 11, 2015and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-102447, filed May 16, 2014. The entirecontents of each of the above-identified documents are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a display device.

BACKGROUND

Various types of display devices have been developed including a liquidcrystal display device, and an organic electroluminescent displaydevice. In these display devices, pixel electrodes provided with pixelsindividually, interconnections electrically connected to the pixelelectrodes, and driving circuits used to drive the interconnections aredisposed on the same substrate.

During the manufacturing process of such a display device, the substratesometimes becomes electrostatically charged, and components of thedriving circuit may be partly damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD),and consequently, the driving circuit may malfunction. As a technique ofpreventing such destruction by the electrostatic discharge, a short ringis known which is connected to the driving circuit and theinterconnection on the substrate.

According to an embodiment disclosed in the present application,provided is a display device which can be manufactured with improvedproductivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an equivalent circuit and structure of adisplay device of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a structural example of an array substrate of the displaydevice.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a boundary territory between a gate driverand an active area disposed on the array substrate.

FIG. 4 shows a joint part of gate line, output line, and contact portionshown in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 5 shows a comparative example of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 exemplifies a possible malfunction caused by ESD.

FIG. 7 exemplifies the possible malfunction caused by ESD.

FIG. 8 exemplifies the possible malfunction caused by ESD.

FIG. 9 shows a display device of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a display device of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a display device includes aninsulating substrate, first line, insulating layer, second line, anddrive circuit. The first line disposed above the insulating substrateand extends in a first direction, an insulating layer covering the firstline. The insulating substrate covers the first line. The second line isdisposed on the insulating layer and extends in a second direction whichcrosses the first direction. The drive circuit includes an output lineextending in the first direction and connected to the first line througha contact portion and the drive circuit is configured to drive the firstline through the output line. The contact portion includes a firstportion to which the first line is connected at a first position, and asecond portion to which the output line is connected at a secondposition which is apart from the first position in the second direction,the second portion facing the first portion with the insulating layerinterposed therebetween while being electrically connected to the firstportion.

Embodiments are described with reference to accompanying drawings.

Note that the disclosure is presented for the sake of exemplification,and any modification and variation conceived within the scope and spiritof the invention by a person having ordinary skill in the art arenaturally encompassed in the scope of invention of the presentapplication. Furthermore, a width, thickness, shape, and the like ofeach element are depicted schematically in the Figures as compared toactual embodiments for the sake of simpler explanation, and they are notto limit the interpretation of the invention of the present application.Furthermore, in the description and Figures of the present application,structural elements having the same or similar functions will bereferred to by the same reference numbers and detailed explanations ofthem that are considered redundant may be omitted.

In this embodiment, a display device is a liquid crystal display device.However, no limitation is intended thereby, and the display device maybe any type of flat panel display devices including self-luminousdisplay device such as an organic electroluminescent display device andthe like, and electronic paper display device including electrophoreticelements and the like. Furthermore, the display device of the presentembodiment can be used in various devices such as smartphone, tablet,mobile phone, notebook computer, game console, and car equipment.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a view which schematically shows the equivalent circuit andthe structure of a liquid crystal display device 1 of the presentembodiment.

The liquid crystal display device 1 includes, for example, a liquidcrystal display panel LPN of active matrix type.

The liquid crystal display panel LPN includes an array substrate AR(first substrate), countersubstrate CT (second substrate) disposed to beopposed to the array substrate AR, and liquid crystal layer LQ heldbetween the array substrate AR and the countersubstrate CT. Furthermore,the liquid crystal display panel LPN includes an active area ACT whichdisplays an image. The active area ACT includes a plurality of pixels PXarranged in an m×n matrix (m and n are positive integers).

The liquid crystal display panel LPN includes, within the active areaACT, a plurality of gate lines G (G1 to Gn) extending in a firstdirection X, a plurality of source lines S (S1 to Sm) extending in asecond direction Y which is orthogonal to the first direction X, aplurality of pixels (pixel regions) PX, a switching element SWelectrically connected to the gate line G and the source line S in eachpixel PX, an island-shaped pixel electrode PE electrically connected tothe switching element SW in each pixel PX, and a common electrode CEwhich forms a electric field with the pixel electrode PE.

Each gate line G is drawn outside the active area ACT and is connectedto a gate driver (gate drive circuit) GD. Each source line S is drawnoutside the active area ACT and is connected to a source driver (sourcedrive circuit) SD. The common electrode CE is electrically connected toa power supply unit VS which supplies a common voltage via a powersupply line PL.

In FIG. 1, the ends of the whole gate lines G1 to Gn at the source lineS1 side are connected to the gate driver GD disposed along the edge atthe source line S1 side outside the active area ACT. As another example,gate drivers GD may be disposed along both the edge at the source lineS1 side and the edge at the source line Sm side outside the active areaACT. If this example is adopted, odd-numbered gate lines G arranged inthe second direction Y may be connected to the one gate driver GD andeven-numbered gate lines G may be connected to the other gate driver GD,for example.

The gate driver GD drives gate lines G one by one to have switchingelements SW in each row (each group of pixels PX aligned in the firstdirection X) conduct. The source driver SD outputs an image signal or anon-image signal to each source line S in a period when each switchingelement SW conducts by the drive of the gate line G, for example.

The gate driver GD and the source driver SD are at least partly formedon the array substrate AR as internal circuits and are connected to adriver IC chip 2. In the example depicted, the driver IC chip 2 used asa signal source necessary to drive the liquid crystal display panel LPNis mounted on the array substrate AR outside the active area ACT of theliquid crystal display panel LPN.

Now, the structure of the array substrate AR is explained.

FIG. 2 is an example of the structure of the array substrate AR. In theexample, a cross-sectional view of the array substrate AR correspondingto a single pixel PX is depicted.

The array substrate AR includes a light transmissive insulatingsubstrate 10 such as a glass substrate or a resin substrate.Furthermore, the array substrate AR includes, at the first main surface10A side of the insulating substrate 10, a first insulating layer 11, asecond insulating layer 12, the gate line G, the source line S, theswitching element SW, the pixel electrode PE, and an alignment film AL.The switching element SW includes a semiconductor layer SC, a firstelectrode GE, a second electrode SE, and a third electrode DE. The firstelectrode GE, second electrode SE, and third electrode DE may bereferred to as gate electrode, source electrode, and drain electrode,respectively.

The first electrode GE and the gate line G are formed integrally, forexample, and both disposed on the first main surface 10A of theinsulating substrate 10. The first electrode GE and the gate line G areformed of a metal such as molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, titanium, andcopper or an alloy containing such a metal. In this example, the firstelectrode GE and the gate line G are formed of MoW.

The first insulating layer 11 is disposed on the first electrode GE, thegate line G, and the first main surface 10A of the insulating substrate10. The first insulating layer 11 is formed of, for example, siliconoxide (SiO) and silicon nitride (SiNx).

The semiconductor layer SC is formed on the first insulating layer 11 inan island shape. The semiconductor layer SC is formed of, for example,amorphous silicon (a-Si). Note that the semiconductor layer SC may beformed of other materials such as polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) andoxide semiconductor.

The second electrode SE and the third electrode DE are disposed on thesemiconductor layer SC. The second electrode SE and the third electrodeDE partly extend onto the first insulating layer 11. The source line Sis disposed on the first insulating layer 11. The second electrode SEand the source line S are formed integrally, for example. The secondelectrode SE, the third electrode DE, and the source line S are formedof the same material used for the first electrode GE, for example. Forexample, the second electrode SE, third electrode DE, and source line Sare formed of a multilayer of titanium and aluminum.

The second insulating layer 12 is disposed on the second electrode SE,the third electrode DE, the source line S, the semiconductor layer SC,and the first insulating layer 11. The second insulating layer 12 isformed of, for example, silicon nitride (SiNx). Furthermore, the secondinsulating layer 12 may contain an organic insulating film formed of aresin material.

The pixel electrode PE is disposed on the second insulating layer 12.The pixel electrode PE contacts the third electrode DE through a contacthole CH provided with the second insulating layer 12. The pixelelectrode PE may be formed of a transparent conductive material such asindium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) or may be formed of ametal such as aluminum.

The alignment film AL is disposed on the pixel electrode PE and thesecond insulating layer 12. On the countersubstrate CT, an alignmentfilm facing the alignment film AL of the array substrate AR is formed,and the liquid crystal layer LQ is filled between these alignment films.

In FIG. 2, the switching element SW is of bottom- and single-gate typeswitching element. The switching element SW may be of top-gate type ordouble-gate type instead.

If switching of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layerLQ is performed in a mode using vertical fields such as twisted nematic(TN) mode and vertical aligned (VA) mode, the common electrode CE isdisposed on the countersubstrate CT. Furthermore, if switching of theliquid crystal molecules is performed in a mode using transverse fields(including fringe field) such as in-plane switching mode, the commonelectrode CE is disposed on the array substrate AR. At that time, thecommon electrode CE is disposed, for example, to face the pixelelectrode PE with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. Or, thecommon electrode CE is disposed on the same plane (XY plane) on whichthe pixel electrode PE is also disposed.

The liquid crystal display panel LPN with the above structure can beapplied to a transmissive liquid crystal display device or a reflectiveliquid crystal display device. If the liquid crystal display panel LPNis applied to a transmissive type liquid crystal display device, thepanel displays images by switching its liquid crystal molecules toselectively transmit light from a backlight at the second main surface10B side of the insulating substrate 10. If the liquid crystal displaypanel LPN is applied to a reflective type liquid crystal display device,the panel displays images by switching its liquid crystal molecules toselectively reflect external light from the countersubstrate CT side tobe incident thereupon. The liquid crystal display device may includeboth functions of reflective type and transmissive type.

The gate driver GD and the source driver SD shown in FIG. 1 are formedat the same time through the manufacturing process of each component ofthe array substrate AR disposed on the active area ACT. In such amanufacturing process, electrostatic energy is generated because of acontact, friction, and exfoliation between the insulating substrate 10and various manufacturing apparatuses and conveying mechanisms orbecause of a plasma treatment such as plasma chemical vapor deposition(CVD) and plasma etching, and the electrostatic energy tends to becharged on the insulating substrate 10 and lines and electrodes in afloating state. Consequently, in the manufacturing process, ESD occursbetween the lines of the gate driver GD and the gate driver GD maymalfunction.

Hereinafter, an example of the structure to prevent such a malfunctionin the gate driver GD is explained. FIG. 3 is a plan view whichschematically shows the proximity of the boundary between the gatedriver GD and the active area ACT. In this figure, two gate lines Galigned in the second direction Y and the components manufactured withthe gate lines G through the same process at the same time are alldepicted in solid lines. On the other hand, two source lines S alignedin the first direction X at the end of the active area ACT adjacent tothe gate driver GD and components manufactured with the source lines Sthrough the same process at the same time are all depicted in brokenlines.

The components depicted in solid lines including the gate lines G areprepared by, for example, forming a conductive film such as MoW on thefirst main surface 10A of the insulating substrate 10 by sputtering andpatterning the conductive film. The components depicted in broken linesincluding the source lines S are prepared by, for example, forming aconductive film on the first insulating layer 11 and the semiconductorlayer SC by sputtering and patterning the conductive film.

Within the active area ACT, the source lines S extend parallel to oneanother along the second direction Y and the gate lines G extendparallel to one another along the first direction X. In FIG. 3, thesource lines S extend bending and the gate lines G extend linearly. Theregion surrounded by the source lines S and the gate lines G correspondsto a single pixel PX. Hereinafter, the structure is explained withreference to this pixel PX. The other pixels PX in the liquid crystaldisplay panel LPN have the same structure as in FIG. 3.

In the example depicted, the first electrode GE of the switching elementSW in the pixel PX is formed integrally with the gate lines G. The firstelectrode GE faces a part of the source lines S and a part of the thirdelectrode DE with the first insulating layer 11 interposed therebetween.The third electrode DE is formed in an island shape within the pixel PXand is connected to the pixel electrode PE shown in FIG. 2.

The gate lines G extend to the gate driver GD passing over the powersupply line PL disposed along the outer periphery of the active areaACT, for example. The power supply line PL is formed with the sourcelines S through the same manufacturing process at the same time.

The gate driver GD includes, at the active area ACT side, a circuit line20, output line 30, and contact portion 40. In addition to the above,the gate driver GD includes a number of interconnections (circuit lines,input line, and output lines), contact portions, capacitances, andswitching elements.

In FIG. 3, the circuit line 20 extends linearly in the second directionY. Furthermore, the output line 30 extends linearly in the firstdirection X.

The contact portion 40 includes a first portion 41 and a second portion42. The first portion 41 is formed integrally with the gate lines G. Thesecond portion 42 is formed integrally with the output line 30. Thefirst portion 41 and the second portion 42 face each other with thefirst insulating layer 11 interposed therebetween, and they extend inthe second direction Y in a stripe shape between a first edge 40 a and asecond edge 40 b of the contact portion 40. The first portion 41 and thesecond portion 42 are electrically connected to each other through oneor more (four in the example depicted) contact holes 43 provided withthe first insulating layer 11. The gate driver GD supplies a drivesignal (drive voltage) to the gate lines G via the output line 30,second portion 42, and first portion 41.

The circuit line 20 and the first portion 41 are formed with the gatelines G through the same manufacturing process at the same time. Theoutput line 30 and the second portion 42 are formed with the sourcelines S in the same manufacturing process at the same time.

The first portion 41 has protrusions 44 (44 a, 44 b) at its edge facingthe circuit line 20 which are protruding to the circuit line 20. Thecircuit line 20 has protrusions 21 (21 a, 21 b) at its edge facing thefirst portion 41 which are protruding to the first portion 41. On the XYplane, the tips of protrusions 44 a and 21 a face each other and thetips of protrusions 44 b and 21 b face each other.

Furthermore, the second portion 42 has a protrusion 45 at its edgecrossing the second direction Y which is protruding to the power supplyline PL in an L-shape. The power supply line PL has a protrusion 50 atits edge facing the second portion 42 which is protruding to the tip ofprotrusion 45. The tips of protrusions 45 and 50 face each other on theXY plane.

FIG. 4 shows a joint part of the gate line G, output line 30, andcontact portion 40 those are shown in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner. Thegate line G extends along an axis A11 which is parallel to the firstdirection X in the active area ACT, and is connected to the edge of thefirst portion 41 at the power supply line PL side at a first position P1which is apart in the second direction Y from axis A11. In the exampleof FIG. 4, the first position P1 is apart from axis A11 toward the firstedge 40 a of the contact portion 40 (toward the upper side of FIG. 4).

The output line 30 extends along an axis A21 which is parallel to thefirst direction X inside the gate driver GD and is connected to the edgeat the circuit line 20 side of the second portion 42 in a secondposition P2 which is apart in the second direction Y from the firstposition P1 by a distance d1.

In the example of FIG. 4, the gate line G extends along axis A11 to thefirst portion 41 from the active area ACT side, bends clockwise at athird position P3 which is near the first portion 41 to form an acuteangle with axis A11, and extends to the first position P1 again bendingat a fourth position P4. The third position P3 is apart in the firstdirection X from the edge of the first portion 41 at the power supplyline PL side by a distance d2.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 4, the output line 30 extendsto the second position P2 which is near the second portion 42 withoutbending. Specifically, the output line 30 crosses the circuit line 20substantially perpendicularly, and extends to pass between protrusions21 a and 44 a and protrusions 21 b and 44 b to be connected to thesecond portion 42 at the second position P2. Protrusions 21 a and 44 aare apart in the second direction Y by distance d3 from a crossingregion CR in which the output line 30 and the circuit line 20 cross.Furthermore, protrusions 21 b and 44 b are apart in the second directionY by distance d4 from the crossing region CR.

In the example of FIG. 4, protrusions 21 a and 44 a are provided with aline continuous from an axis A12 of the gate line G which extendsbetween the first position P1 and the fourth position P4, and axis A12is parallel to the first direction X. Therefore, distances d1 and d3basically match. Protrusions 21 b and 44 b are provided with the end ofthe first portion 41 in the second direction Y (lower end in FIG. 4).

With the structure explained above, malfunctions of the gate driver GDcaused by ESD can be prevented. This effect will be explained withreference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 to 8.

FIG. 5 shows a comparative example of the present embodiment, in which ajoint part of the gate line G, the output line 30, and the contactportion 40 is shown in an enlarged manner as in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, thegate line G extends linearly along axis A11 which is parallel to thefirst direction X inside the active area ACT, and is connected to thefirst portion 41 at the first position P1 without bending.

If an insulating substrate 10 or the like becomes electrostaticallycharged in a manufacturing process of an array substrate AR, anelectrostatic current runs through the gate line G to reach the firstportion 41 and will cause electrostatic destruction (ESD) between afirst portion 41 and a circuit line 20. Generally, such ESD easilyoccurs in the shortest current path between the gate line G and thecircuit line 20, that is, in the proximity of a position PC where a linecontinuously extending from an axis A11 of the gate line G and thecircuit line 20 cross.

In the example of FIG. 5, the output line 30 and the gate line Gbasically extend along the same straight line. Therefore, the positionPC above is in the proximity of a crossing region CR. A possiblemalfunction in this case will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to8.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view which schematically shows that a firstelectrode GE (gate line G), the circuit line 20, the first portion 41,the first insulating layer 11, and the semiconductor layer SC are formedon the first main surface 10A of the insulating substrate 10 in themanufacturing process of the array substrate AR. In the exampledepicted, if ESD occurs in the proximity of the position PC, the firstinsulating layer 11 between the first portion 41 and the circuit line 20is damaged, and as in FIG. 7, a damage hole 60 may be produced, partlyexposing the circuit line 20. If the second electrode SE (source lineS), the third electrode DE, and the output line 30 are formed as in FIG.8 after the damage hole 60 is produced, the circuit line 20 and theoutput line 30 which should normally be insulated from each other areshort-circuited through the damage hole 60. As can be understood fromthe above, a malfunction in the gate driver GD caused by ESD will beproduced in the structure shown in FIG. 5.

In contrast, in the example of FIG. 4, ESD tends to occur in theshortest current path between the gate line G and the circuit line 20,that is, in the proximity of a position PC where a line continuouslyextended from axis A12 of the gate line G and the circuit line 20 cross.Note that, in the example of FIG. 4, the position PC is apart from thecrossing region CR. Therefore, even if the first insulating layer 11near the position PC is damaged by ESD, a malfunction such as ashort-circuit between the circuit line 20 and the output line 30 doesnot easily occur.

In the example of FIG. 4, the first position P1 is apart from the secondposition P2 in the second direction Y by bending the gate line G. Thisstructure can be adopted even if the output line 30 and the gate line Gmust be arranged on the same straight line extending in the firstdirection X because of design requirements (that is, even if asufficient gap cannot be secured between axes A11 and A21 in the seconddirection Y).

Note that if distance d2 between the third position P3 and the firstportion 41 is short, ESD may occur between the gate line G and the firstportion 41 at the third position P3. The inventors of the presentapplication have studied this point and verified that ESD does noteasily occur if distance d2 is set greater than or equal to 15 μm,approximately. According to this verification, distance d2 shouldpreferably be d2≥15 μm. For example, distance d2 is approximately 20 μm.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 4, a gap between the first portion41 and the circuit line 20 becomes narrower at positions whereprotrusions 21 a and 44 a are provided and protrusions 21 b and 44 b areprovided, and ESD tends to occur in these positions. That is, ESD can begenerated by design at positions which do not affect the crossing regionCR only by adjusting the positions of protrusions 21 a and 44 a andprotrusions 21 b and 44 b.

Note that, according to the verification by the inventors of the presentapplication, a malfunction caused by ESD scarcely occurs if the crossingregion CR is apart from the position of ESD by 10 μm or more. That is,the damage of the first insulating layer 11 caused by ESD tends to occurwithin an approximately 10 μm radius range from the position of ESD, andESD causes a very limited effect outside this range. Therefore, fromthis verification, distances d3 and d4 should preferably be d3, d4≥10μm. For example, distance d3 is approximately 11.0 μm and distance d4 isapproximately 11.5 μm.

The inventors prototyped liquid crystal display devices using thestructure of FIG. 4 and liquid crystal display devices using thestructure of FIG. 5 to evaluate a malfunction ratio in gate drivers GDcaused by ESD in both devices. As a result, approximately 1.8% of thegate driver GD malfunctioned in the liquid crystal display devices usingthe structure of FIG. 5 while approximately 0.1% of the gate driver GDmalfunctioned in the liquid crystal display device using the structureof FIG. 4. That is, the evaluation showed that the productivity can beimproved by approximately 1.7% with the structure of FIG. 4. As can beunderstood from the above, the present embodiment can reduce or preventthe malfunction in the gate driver GD caused by ESD and can improve theproductivity of the liquid crystal display device.

In addition to the above, various favorable effects can be obtained fromthe structure of the present embodiment.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is now explained. Unless otherwise specified, thestructure and work of the embodiment are the same as those of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view which shows a liquid crystal display deviceof the second embodiment and shows a joint part of a gate line G, outputline 30, and contact portion 40 in an enlarged manner as in FIG. 4.

In the example of FIG. 9, a first position P21 where the gate line G andthe first portion 41 are connected together is provided on an axis A11of the gate line G extending in the first direction X within the activearea ACT. That is, the gate line G extends from the inside of the activearea ACT to the first position P21 without bending.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 9, a second position P22 wherethe output line 30 and the second portion 42 are connected together isapart in the second direction Y from the first position P21 and is apartin the second direction Y from an axis A21 of the output line 30 whichextends in the first direction X from the inside of the gate driver GD.Specifically, the second position P22 is apart from axis A21 toward thefirst edge 40 a of the contact portion 40 (toward the upper side of FIG.9). The output line 30 extends to the second portion 42 along axis A21from the inside of the gate driver GD, bends counterclockwise at a thirdposition P23 which is near the second portion 42 to form an acute anglewith axis A21, and extends to the second position P22 again bending at afourth position P24.

Even if the output line 30 is bent while the gate line G is unbent toseparate the first position P21 from the second position P22 in thesecond direction Y as above, a position where a line continuouslyextending from the gate line G and the circuit line 20 cross can beseparated from the crossing region CR. Therefore, even if ESD occurs onthe line continuously extending from gate line G and the firstinsulating layer 11 is damaged by ESD, a malfunction such as ashort-circuit between the circuit line 20 and the output line 30 doesnot easily occur.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment is now explained. Unless otherwise specified, thestructure and work of the embodiment are the same as those of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view which shows a liquid crystal display deviceof the third embodiment and shows a joint part of a gate line G, outputline 30, and contact portion 40 in an enlarged manner as in FIG. 4.

In the example of FIG. 10, a first position P31 where a gate line G anda first portion 41 are connected together is apart in the seconddirection Y from an axis A11 of the gate line G which extends in thefirst direction X within the active area ACT. Specifically, the firstposition P31 is apart from axis A11 toward a first edge 40 a of acontact portion 40 (toward the upper side of FIG. 10). The gate line Gextends from the active area ACT to the first portion 41 along axis A11,bends clockwise to form an acute angle with axis A11 at a third positionP33 which is near the first portion 41, and extends to the firstposition P31 again bending at a fourth position P34.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 10, a second position P32where the output line 30 and the second portion 42 are connected witheach other is apart in the second direction Y from the first point P21,and is apart in the second direction Y from axis A21 of the output line30 which extends in the first direction X inside the gate driver GD.Specifically, the second position P32 is apart from axis A21 toward thesecond edge 40 b of the contact portion 40 (toward the lower side ofFIG. 10). The output line 30 extends from the inside of the gate driverGD to the second portion 42 along axis A21, bends clockwise to form anacute angle with axis A21 at a fifth position P35 which is near thesecond portion 42, and extends to the second position P32 again bendingat a sixth position P36.

Even if both the gate line G and the output line 30 are bent to separatethe first position P21 from the second position P22 in the seconddirection Y as above, a position where a line continuously extendingfrom the gate line G which is connected to the first portion 41 at thefirst position P31 and the circuit line 20 cross can be separated fromthe crossing region CR.

Therefore, even if ESD occurs therein and the first insulating layer 11is damaged by ESD, a malfunction such as a short-circuit between thecircuit line 20 and the output line 30 does not easily occur.

(Variations)

The structures of the first to third embodiments can be variedarbitrarily.

For example, the positions where the gate line G and the output line 30are bent, the angle of bending, the number of bending points, and thepositions and number of protrusions 21 and 44 are not limited to theexamples depicted in FIGS. 4, 9 and 10.

Furthermore, if there can be maintained a sufficient gap in the seconddirection Y between axis A11 of the gate line G which extends in thefirst direction X inside the active area ACT and axis A21 of the outputline 30 which extends in the first direction X inside the gate driverGD, the gate line G and the output line 30 may be connected to the firstportion 41 and the second portion 42 without bending. Even if so, aposition where the line continuously extending from the gate line G andthe circuit line 20 cross can be separated from the crossing region CR,and a malfunction of the gate driver GD caused by ESD can be prevented.

Furthermore, the structures of FIGS. 4, 9 and 10 can be applied tovarious display devices including lines to drive pixels and a substrateon which a drive circuit used to supply driving signals to the lines,namely, an organic electroluminescence display device and the like.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: an arraysubstrate including: source lines arrayed in a first direction; gatelines arrayed in a second direction intersecting the first direction; agate driver formed on the array substrate as an internal circuit; anoutput line electrically connected to the gate driver; a circuit lineelectrically connected to the gate driver; a power supply line; and aninsulating layer having a first surface and a second surface opposed tothe first surface, wherein the gate driver is located at an outside ofan active area which displays an image, the circuit line extendslinearly in the second direction, the power supply line extends parallelto the circuit line and is located between the gate driver and theactive area in the first direction, the power supply line is locatedbetween the circuit line and the active area, the output line is drawnfrom the gate driver to the active area, and is connected to one of thegate lines at a contact portion, the contact portion extends linearly inthe second direction and is parallel to the power supply line, a part ofthe output line crosses the circuit line diagonally at a crossingregion, the output line has a first part, a second part, and a thirdpart, the first part and the third part extend in the first direction,the second part is between the first part and the third part, a firstend of the second part is connected to the first part at a firstposition, a second end of the second part is connected to the third partat a second position, the second part extends in a third direction whichforms an acute angle with the first direction, the second part includesthe part of the output line which crosses the circuit line at thecrossing region, the first part, the second part, and the third part arein contact with the first surface of the insulating layer, and thecircuit line is in contact with the second surface of the insulatinglayer.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the power supply lineis in contact with the first surface of the insulating layer.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein the circuit line is between the firstposition and the second position in the first direction.
 4. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein a width in the first direction of the circuitline is smaller than a width in the first direction of the power supplyline.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the first position isshifted in the first direction and in the second direction with thesecond position.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein a distancefrom the first position to the second position in the second directionis larger than 10 μm.
 7. The display device of claim 5, wherein theacute angle is larger than 30 degrees.
 8. The display device of claim 5,further comprising pixel electrodes and a common electrode connected tothe power supply line, wherein the common electrode, the gate lines, thesource lines and the pixel electrodes are formed on the substrate in thedisplay area, and the common electrode faces the pixel electrodes in athickness direction of the substrate in the display area.
 9. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the first part, the second part and the thirdpart are integrally formed of a same material.
 10. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the third part is between the contact portion and thesecond part, and is connected to the contact portion.